Celebrities

In big news for the dating app industry – Democratic Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg met his husband on Hinge. And after his public remarks praising the dating app, it seems Hinge has also seen a spike in gay users.

Fortune reported that the app has seen a 30 percent increase in gay memberships since April 1^st, around the time the rising star mayor of South Bend Indiana disclosed he used the app and ended up meeting his husband Chasten on it.

“We’re proud of all of the relationships we’ve helped set up — including Mayor Pete and Chasten,” Hinge CEO Justin McLeod told Fortune. “We’re happy to see that their love story has encouraged even more members of the LGBTQ community to find their person on Hinge.”

U.S. Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg is making history as the first candidate to have met his spouse on a dating app. The young millennial mayor of South Bend, Indiana and rising star in the sea of Democratic hopefuls disclosed that he and his husband met on Hinge.

In a profile in The New York Times in 2018, Buttegieg’s husband Chasten Glezman said he downloaded Hinge because he “wanted a platform where you’re not necessarily inundated with hookup culture and sex.” Hinge has marketed itself as a dating app for more serious daters since its inception, and has recently doubled down on this effort with a redesign aimed at helping users find relationships so they can delete the app.

Bumble made a name for itself by inviting women to take charge of their love lives and make the first move. The company’s mission to empower women, shake up outdated social norms, and fight for equal opportunities struck a chord with frustrated female daters who quickly flocked to the app. Since then, Bumble has successfully launched platforms for friendship and business networking, and has taken its pursuit of gender parity offline with a string of initiatives including Bumble Fund and a partnership with Bloggers Who Brunch.

Bloggers Who Brunch is a Los Angeles-based experiential marketing agency that connects brands with influencers through social events and innovative activations. Bumble Bizz recently collaborated with Bloggers Who Brunch to highlight women in entertainment who are leading the way toward greater diversity and inclusion in the industry. The ‘Women In Entertainment’ series highlighted singer, actor and host of syndicated talk show The Real Adrienne Bailon-Houghton, along with actor, influencer and fashion blogger Cara Santana.

Image: Bumble

Dating app Bumble has set its sights on partnering with prominent female leaders, including tennis champion Serena Williams. The company just announced that she will be an investor and active member of the new Bumble Fund, as well as a global ambassador for the brand.

The Bumble Fund is an investment fund started by Bumble founder and CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd to help female entrepreneurs get support for their projects and businesses. It’s also a great way to market the company’s networking app Bumble Bizz. The Bumble Fund focuses on getting businesses started with initial funding, ranging anywhere from $5,000 to $250,000, primarily for businesses led by women of color and underrepresented groups.

Bumble confirmed that a new ad featuring its latest celebrity partner Serena Williams will debut during the first half of the SuperBowl.

According to AdWeek, Bumble teased a new campaign with the tennis star, admitting that it would coordinate with the SuperBowl, though it wasn’t clear if they were planning to air an ad during the game, one of the most-watched annual events in the U.S. (and one of the most expensive ad buys). Bumble has now confirmed their first SuperBowl ad will feature Serena Williams and their new campaign “The Ball is in Her Court.”

Bumble, a female-friendly dating app, is serious about its female-empowerment mission. Over the past few years, the brand has debuted offerings that appeal specifically to women, such as partnering with Moxy Hotels to offer BumbleSpot – verified locations where Bumble users can meet for dates, career networking, or potential new friendships - in an effort to create safe spaces for women.

Bumble CEO and Serena Williams

Star athlete Serena Williams is making her next move as Bumble’s global advisor. The company announced that its new ad campaign featuring the award-winning tennis champion will debut during this year’s Super Bowl.

The theme of the campaign is in line with Bumble’s female-friendly focus, called “The Ball is in Her Court.” It will feature Williams making the first move in every aspect of life: dating, friendship, and business, according to the release, according to AdWeek.

Partnering with a high-profile, empowered female is a consistent reflection of the Bumble brand. In its press release, Bumble stated that Williams’ role will include enforcing Bumble’s “mission to end misogyny and empower women around the world.”